Chapter 44: Fencing Stolen Goods! Magical Artifact!
Cloud Chamber of Commerce.
The shop was right next to Gathering Immortals Tower. Lin Chang’an, disguised as a hunchbacked old man, slowly stepped in through the wind and snow.
“Senior.”
He was immediately greeted by a young attendant. However, the hunchbacked cultivator Lin Chang’an was pretending to be radiated a faint pressure of Late-stage Qi Refinement under his indifferent expression, causing the attendant’s face to pale instantly.
“Go call your shopkeeper.”
“Senior, please wait a moment.”
Just as the attendant was fawning and speaking, Lu Qingqing from the second floor came down with a beaming smile.
“This senior, please come upstairs.”
Looking at the familiar Lu Qingqing, Lin Chang’an knew that this junior sister of his was meticulous in thought. To avoid being seen through, he directly snorted and transmitted his voice:
“I heard that the Cloud Chamber of Commerce has a high-grade alchemist. Go tell him that I have four-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs. It's up to you whether you want them or not.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqing felt a surge of joy in her heart, and her face lit up with an even bigger smile.
Second floor.
The hunchbacked elder Lin Chang’an was disguised as calmly surveyed the surroundings.
Opposite him, Lu Qingqing couldn’t hide her excitement and carefully exchanged voice transmissions with the high-grade alchemist of the Chamber.
This high-grade alchemist, already past seventy and at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement, had been invited by Yun Yao—or rather, Yun Yao agreed to protect his descendants. It was purely a transaction.
“Not bad. One of these two herbs is four hundred years old, and the other is about three hundred fifty to sixty years. More importantly, the roots are well preserved.”
At last, the white-bearded alchemist nodded to confirm the assessment, and only then did Lu Qingqing beam with joy. These were rare commodities.
“Senior, after examination, these two herbs are of excellent quality. For the four-hundred-year-old one, we can offer you one thousand spirit stones. The other one is slightly inferior and can only fetch six hundred.”
Just a few decades of difference in age made for such a large price difference.
Lin Chang’an understood this and knew that the price was fair.
“One thousand seven hundred spirit stones!”
The hoarse voice echoed, causing Lu Qingqing’s eyes to narrow slightly. She had already guessed that the origins of these herbs were probably not clean. But with Palace of Blazing Fire backing her, whether it was legitimate or not didn't matter—as long as it was real.
“Senior is straightforward. One thousand seven hundred spirit stones it is. Consider it our Cloud Chamber of Commerce making a friend out of you. If you have more treasures in the future, you’re welcome anytime.”
The hunchbacked old man Lin Chang’an was disguised as gave a hoarse reply.
It was a swift and clean transaction. Lin Chang’an left behind the two herbs, took the one thousand seven hundred spirit stones, and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation, vanishing directly into the wind and snow.
Inside the shop, the aged alchemist furrowed his brow and said in a low voice:
“Manager Lu, this man was in quite a hurry. I’m afraid the origins of these two herbs aren’t clean.”
But Lu Qingqing only smiled calmly upon hearing this.
“There are plenty of treasures with murky origins in the marketplace right now. Who cares about that at times like these?”
Upon hearing this, the alchemist said no more. Instead, he lowered his head and admired the spiritual herbs.
Even for him, four-hundred-year-old spiritual herbs were rare to see.
Lu Qingqing narrowed her eyes. She had no intention of investigating the origin of these two herbs. What she hoped was that Yun Yao could use them to exchange for more sect contributions.
The more stable Yun Yao stood, the better their future would be.
...
Amidst the howling wind and snow, the hunchbacked elder Lin Chang’an was disguised as changed disguises several more times along the way before finally appearing in front of the Treasure Pavilion of the Pavilion of Mystic Sound.
“These spirit stones need to be spent quickly.”
After all, who knew if there were any traces left on the spirit stones? He didn’t want to expose a flaw out of carelessness.
As the saying went, money made in the marketplace should be spent in the marketplace—not a coin should be brought home.
This operation went smoothly because he knew Yun Yao wasn’t in the marketplace, and the highest cultivation among the Cloud Chamber of Commerce was only Late-stage Qi Refinement, incapable of seeing through his disguise.
This was the importance of reconnaissance.
Treasure Pavilion.
“High-grade magical artifacts of the Wood element, flying needle hidden weapons type, preferably those that are highly effective against defensive spiritual light.”
A familiar second floor, facing a familiar shopkeeper, the disguised Lin Chang’an hoarsely voiced his request.
The shopkeeper smiled upon hearing it. “High-grade magical artifacts? No problem.”
With a wave of his hand, two delicate brocade boxes floated out from the back.
“Fellow cultivator, please take a look.”
As the two vermilion brocade boxes opened, the shopkeeper pointed at the first box with a proud smile and said:
“Light-escaping Needles, high-grade magical artifact, a full set of nine, as thin as ox hair, extremely hard to detect—an absolute must-have for self-defense.”
“And the second item, ‘Phosphorescent Green Needle’, is refined from six-hundred-year-old phosphorescent green grass roots and refined metal. Not only is it incomparably sharp and effective against defensive spiritual light, but it also contains potent poison.”
The first item was a set-type magical artifact, which demanded a higher level of divine sense. More importantly, since it came as a set of nine, any single needle by itself would be less effective than a standalone high-grade artifact.
After all, his Woodspike could only achieve its best effect in a surprise attack. If the first strike missed, it would be hard afterward.
Thus, Lin Chang’an silently shook his head. The first magical artifact had to be discarded.
The second item’s needle glowed with a soft green light. The phosphorescent green herb itself was a toxic material—this one wasn’t bad.
“The first one’s too thin, the second one’s too short.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head, and the shopkeeper looked at him in astonishment, feeling he seemed familiar.
A closer look—good heavens—wasn’t this the same fellow from last time who complained about items being too big and long? Now he’s saying too thin and short?
The shopkeeper was stunned. Such picky demands were truly baffling.
“How many spirit stones for the second one?”
But Lin Chang’an’s next words left the shopkeeper speechless. Clearly he fancied the second one, but was trying to haggle.
“One thousand four hundred spirit stones.”
“Too expensive. If it were a set-type artifact, then it would be worth that. For a single flying needle magical artifact, the most it should be is one thousand one hundred spirit stones.”
Ordinary high-grade magical artifacts typically cost around one thousand spirit stones. Hidden weapons like flying needles tended to be pricier.
After a round of bargaining, the final price for this magical artifact settled at one thousand three hundred spirit stones. However, Lin Chang’an didn’t rush to pay. Instead, he looked at the shopkeeper and rasped:
“One more high-grade defensive magical artifact. I want one with good concealment.”
Upon hearing that there was more business, the shopkeeper immediately broke into a cheerful smile.
“Fellow cultivator, flying needle-type hidden weapons are rare, but there are plenty of defensive magical artifacts.”
With a wave of his hand, seven brocade boxes appeared—there were shields, bells, and other defensive artifacts. In the end, Lin Chang’an chose a piece of treasure armor that could be hidden beneath a magical robe.
“Fellow cultivator has good taste. This Gold-threaded Scale Armor is not only soft and exceptionally tough, but in a critical moment, it can emit golden light for protection. A great deal at one thousand one hundred spirit stones.”
Cunning old fox!
Lin Chang’an was speechless. That extra one hundred spirit stones—he could swear the shopkeeper tacked that on on purpose.
Sure enough, the Gold-threaded Scale Armor was finally sold for one thousand spirit stones.
The two high-grade magical artifacts were purchased for a total of two thousand three hundred spirit stones.
In less than a day, Lin Chang’an not only spent all of the one thousand seven hundred spirit stones he hadn’t even warmed in his pocket, he even threw in an extra six hundred.
Even if there was something wrong with those spirit stones, they were now in the Pavilion of Mystic Sound—it had nothing to do with him.
As he stepped out of the Treasure Pavilion and his figure vanished into the snowstorm, the shopkeeper on the second floor looked at the spirit stones, squinting and muttering to himself:
“These days really are getting more and more chaotic. High-grade magical artifacts are selling faster than ever.”